Ships

The pair was hit by a blast of warm air as Merlin opened the door for her. As the crowd turned to look to see who had entered the restaurant, Merlin dropped Morgana's hand. Morgana felt a bit disappointed, but stomped it down. 

"Let's get this over with," Morgana said, leading him into the line. 

"Agreed." Merlin sighed as he spotted a table of girls laughing while looking at the two of them. No doubt more shippers. The line moved slowly, Merlin and Morgana not speaking to each other, but instead, standing side by side, awkwardly. 

Suddenly, a cute brunette, one of the ones who was laughing, walked up to Merlin. 

"Hey, um, well, me and my friends think you're pretty hot and we were wondering if you'd like to come hang out with us?"

Merlin stared blankly at her, not quite comprehending what she'd just said. Morgana felt a bolt of something.....jealousy? But she wasn't jealous-she hated Merlin. Just because she'd heard about his awful childhood and held hands with him didn't mean she felt any different. Right? 

"Um, I'm sorry, but I'm really not interested," Merlin said finally, shocking Morgana out of her mental debate. She had never thought Merlin would turn down a girl. 

"And why not?" the girl asked, flabbergasted. Though Merlin seemed to be handling the situation well on his own, Morgana felt like she should help him. 

"Because we're here together," Morgana said, grabbing Merlin's hand. Merlin looked sideways at her, trying to hide his shock. The girl's eyes went from Merlin to Morgana and back to Merlin. 

"Are you sure? I mean, you could do better than her," the girl said. Merlin's hand tightened on Morgana's. 

"I'm completely positive," he told her through clenched teeth. She raised an eyebrow. 

"Well, if you ever change your mind....." she trailed off. 

"I won't," he said stubbornly. 

"Fine." The blonde haired girl gave up and walked off to her group of friends. 

Merlin didn't take his hand back and Morgana didn't let go. 

"Thanks for that, I guess," Merlin said. 

"You looked like you needed help."

"I was doing fine," he scoffed. 

"Sure. Besides, I thought you would have given in to her."

"Oh? And why's that?"

"I've never known you to turn down a girl before." 

"I've turned down plenty of girls before."

"Really? Why?"

"The girls I ask out? I don't even like them. Gwaine dares me to ask out all of them."

Morgana made a face. "That's just cruel. You're playing them."

"Well, I am a player," he replied, smirking at her. 

"I bet Gwaine dared you to take me out for dinner, even if it was for science," Morgana muttered under her breath. Merlin heard and sighed. 

"No, Morgana, he didn't. Well, he's dared me to ask you out but I've always said no."

"Thank god for that," she mumbled. 

"Why do you hate me so much?" Merlin asked, genuinely curious about the answer. 

Morgana opened her mouth to tell him, but was interrupted. 

"What can I get you to eat?" the man behind the counter asked in a tired voice. 

"Um, a Hawaiian pizza, please," Merlin told the man. 

"Cheese pizza," Morgana said. 

"Just cheese?" the man asked. 

"Yes, just cheese." 

"We have a Plain Jane over here," Merlin quipped and Morgana slapped his arm. 

"Merlin, shut up," she ordered, but he chuckled. 

They sat down at an open table away from the group of giggling girls and waited for their pizza. 

Merlin stared at the pictures on the wall behind Morgana while she took interest in the fires the cooks were making the pizzas in. 

All of a sudden, a boy came up to their table. He had short brown hair and pretty green eyes. 

"I was wondering if you'd like to sometime go out with me?" he asked Morgana confidently. Merlin's eyes widened. 

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Morgana questioned as politely as she could. The boy looked taken aback, but quickly straightened up. 

"My name's Ralf. Ralf Danvers. I'm new here. I'm in your english class," he told her. "You're very pretty and I couldn't help but ask."

Merlin cleared his throat. Ralf looked at him like he'd just noticed Merlin for the first time. 

"Oh, are you two.....together?" 

Merlin and Morgana looked at each other, trying to decide what to say. On one hand, they wanted to say they were so he'd leave them alone. On the other hand, they both hated each other. 

"Sort of," Merlin finally said. 

"Yeah, sort of," echoed Morgana. 

"What do you mean, 'sort of'?" Ralf asked suspiciously. He had just asked her out. He wasn't taking no for an answer. 

"We're playing Ships," Morgana blurted out, desperately thinking of an answer. Merlin looked at her, shocked. 

"So you guys aren't really in a relationship. You guys are just playing a game. And you won't go out with me," Ralf stated. 

"Yeah...." Morgana said sheepishly. 

"I think you're lying. I'm going to be watching you guys to see if you're actually playing Ships. Or if you're trying to make me go away."

"I've already tried that," Morgana muttered. Merlin stifled a laugh. 

"And the moment I realize this is a trick, you're with me. Got it?"

Morgana and Merlin both stood up. 

"Look, kid, she's not a possession. She said no. She doesn't want you. So go away," Merlin seethed. 

"She didn't actually say no," Ralf pointed out. 

"No. There, I said it," Morgana snapped. "Now go away." 

"Oh, sweetheart, I will make you mine," Ralf growled into her ear. 

Merlin pulled Morgana into his arms. "You won't touch her unless she says to." 

"I'm playing a game with Merlin and I'm perfectly happy," she snarled. Merlin's heart leapt at the words, even though he knew they were fake. 

"I'll win your heart, darling, if it's the last thing I do. Actually, damn that. I'll have you, whether you're willing or not," he shot back, turned on his heel, and walked away. 

Merlin let go of Morgana, who was fuming. "That bastard, thinking I'm a prize to be won," Morgana ranted. 

"Morgana," he said gently. 

"Don't," she snapped. They both sat back down, silently seething at the nerve of the boy. 

Their pizza was brought over to them by the time they had somewhat calmed down. 

"Hey, I saw you guys talking to someone. It looked like it was a heated conversation. Everything okay?" the waiter asked. 

"Yeah, everything's fine," Morgana answered, making her voice light. 

"Great. Enjoy your food," he said. 

Merlin and Morgana looked at each other after he walked away. 

"Well, I guess we're playing Ships now," Merlin said.